Spot the Leopard: Big Five Part 3

30 August 2013

But seriously. That camo is priceless. I’m going to give you two of the three (adult) leopards and one of the cubs we saw in Kruger National Park, and you’ll see just how good those spots work.

#1 Leopard in a tree.

Just who are these superhuman bionic-visioned people who spot leopards in the first place? Kurt and I scoured trees every day looking for leopards but only got to see a leopard in a tree because others were already stopped looking at it. Look at this photo. Do you see the leopard? I know where she is, so it’s now easy for me. But try spotting that from 3 swimming pool lengths away, driving down the road.

VERY good camouflage!

Even knowing exactly where he is, it’s still difficult to tell the difference between a tree in shadows and a leopard.

Aha – here now he has moved. This was the first time I officially saw this fella. I didn’t seem him when I took the photo above, and I had to go back through my photos to see.

See? Because this is soooo much easier.Finally lying down. Still barely more than a silhouette.Thank goodness for zoom.

#2 Leopard in the bush. Do you see her cub?

See the cub yet?

A quick glimpse and she’s off into the bush again. The cub has already disappeared into the far brush.

More leopard cubs (from the third leopard we saw in Kruger) when I post about the Baby Big Five in a couple weeks. Next week I’ll finish out the big five and have another giveaway!

In the meantime, have a fantabulous weekend, readers. Mine is starting today with a cool online book launch of Scything Grace by Sean Thomas Dougherty. South Africa (so far) doesn’t appear to have a lot of literary events (at least, not that I’ve been able to find through my internet searches) but thankfully I can still attend book launches in the states with modern technology! The author will be online during a specified time today to answer questions and interact with readers. Very cool, Mr. Dougherty!

If they were after me, I’d be easy prey. I didn’t see them til you zoomed. I had trouble finding in the circle. Where in the world is …? I’ve never been a birder, never see them, but then you’d think as big as a leopard is….